Fundamental Philosophy, Vol. 2 (of 2)

"Fundamental Philosophy, Vol. 2 (of 2)" by Jaime Luciano Balmes is a thoughtful exploration of knowledge that tackles questions about ideas, how we think, and the basic rules of philosophy. The author takes a closer look at different ways of thinking, especially the ideas of Condillac and Kant, and talks about how our senses, gut feelings, and logical thinking all connect. Early on, the text examines how we move from just sensing things to forming actual ideas, clarifying that even though feeling things is important, it doesn't fully explain everything our minds do. Balmes looks at what different philosophies say about ideas, especially questioning Condillac's idea that all our thinking comes from our senses. Balmes insists that we have to recognize that there's more to thinking than just what we experience through our senses. In essence, it sets the stage for an investigation into how we understand and learn, pushing back against overly simple explanations of knowledge.